This is the reason why NYC mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo resigned as Governor of New York in 2021

When Andrew Cuomo abruptly announced his resignation as Governor of New York in August 2021, it stunned even seasoned political observers. The decision came after months of mounting allegations that the three-term Democrat – once hailed nationally for his leadership during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic – had engaged in a long-running pattern of sexual harassment against multiple women, including state employees.

What did Cuomo do wrong?

The turning point came with a 165-page report released by New York Attorney General Letitia James. After a five-month investigation, the report concluded that Cuomo had sexually harassed 11 women and created a hostile work environment. Investigators said the governor’s behavior included unwanted kissing, intimate hugs, inappropriate comments about women’s looks and relationships, and–in one case–unlawful touching.

Cuomo, then 63, denied the most serious allegations but admitted to what he called “overly familiar” behavior. His televised resignation speech attempted to frame his actions as generational misunderstanding rather than predation. “I’ve been too familiar with people. My sense of humor can be insensitive and off-putting,” he said, adding, “In my mind, I’ve never crossed the line with anyone–but I didn’t realize the extent to which the line has been redrawn.”

Despite his attempts at damage control, the political fallout was immediate and irreversible. Both then President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi publicly called for him to step down. Cuomo’s once-loyal allies abandoned him. Within a week of the report’s release, facing near-certain impeachment, he resigned.

The criminal charge that followed

Cuomo’s resignation didn’t end his legal troubles. Two months later, in October 2021, Albany County prosecutors charged him with a Class A misdemeanor–forcible touching, stemming from a December 2020 incident inside the Executive Mansion. The complaint alleged that Cuomo “intentionally, and for no legitimate purpose, forcibly placed his hand under the blouse shirt of the victim and onto her intimate body part,” specifically her left breast, “for the purposes of degrading and gratifying his sexual desires.”

According to the filing, the alleged victim – identified in the Attorney General’s report as Executive Assistant #1 – had endured repeated inappropriate conduct since 2019. The report detailed “a pattern of inappropriate conduct,” including hugs that lingered, kisses on the lips, touching and grabbing during photos, and a steady stream of sexually suggestive remarks.

The criminal charge carried a potential sentence of up to one year in jail and three years of probation. Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple Sr. announced that Cuomo had been summoned to appear in court to respond to the allegations. Cuomo maintained his innocence and accused prosecutors of political motivation, insisting that “there was no truth” to the charge.

Still, the optics were devastating: a sitting governor accused of groping an aide in the governor’s mansion. “Cuomo is being held to account as he should be,” said Mariann Wang, attorney for two of the women named in the Attorney General’s report. “We hope that all men who abuse their power by abusing women will see this and understand that there will be real consequences.”

The fall of the Cuomo dynasty

Cuomo’s resignation marked the collapse of one of New York’s most powerful political dynasties. The son of former Governor Mario Cuomo, he had been in office since 2011 and was once considered a contender for the presidency. His daily Covid-19 briefings in 2020 earned him an Emmy Award and national recognition. But the same controlling, domineering style that made him an effective crisis communicator also fostered an atmosphere of intimidation and fear inside his administration, conditions that, investigators concluded, enabled his misconduct to flourish unchecked.

Kathy Hochul, Cuomo’s lieutenant governor, took office on August 24, 2021, becoming New York’s first female governor. Her ascension symbolized both the end of Cuomo’s era and a broader cultural reckoning in American politics.

For Cuomo, the scandal destroyed not just his governorship but his image as a tough, competent leader. As he reemerges in 2025 as a New York City mayoral candidate, the shadow of his 2021 downfall continues to hang over him. The reason he resigned wasn’t political convenience, it was accountability, forced by a public no longer willing to tolerate the abuse of power behind closed doors.

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